What do you think?
Seven Psychologies
From Preface of the book. This book has been written not for professional psychologists, but for those interested in psychology who, having made a preliminary survey of the field, are impressed by the fact that there are many different schools of thought in psychology, and wish to inquire further into the matter.
- GenresPsychology
450 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1963
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
August 23, 2024
AN EARLY (1933) SUMMARY OF DIFFERENT AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL MOVEMENTS
The author wrote in the Preface to this 1933 book, "This book has been written not for professional psychologists, but for those who are interested in psychology who... are impressed by the fact that there are many different schools of thought in psychology, and wish to inquire further into the matter. The discussion refers specifically to American psychology ... it gives only occasional glimpses of that activity which is most characteristic of American psychology, experimental research... it does not consider, or even enumerate, all the systems now current in American psychology." (Pg. v)
She adds, "The selection of the seven systems has also been determined by the conception of systems as effective influences in the development of psychology." (Pg. vii) The seven systems are: Titchener and Structuralism; William James; Functionalism; Behaviorism; Dynamic Psychology; Gestalt Psychology; and Freud and Psychoanalysis. She explains, "systems of psychology will be considered ... not as right or wrong... but in terms of their influence on the actual development of a science of psychology." (Pg. 16)
She says about the rise of "scientific psychology" in Germany, "Some were more philosophical than psychological in their interests, others more physiological, but out of their labors a branch of knowledge was growing that was neither philosophy nor physiology. The 'new' psychology was not a study of the soul, certainly not an inquiry by rational analysis into its simplicity, substantiality, and immortality. It was a study, by observation and experiment, of certain reactions of the human organism not included in the subject-matter of any other science." (Pg. 105)
She observes, "for Titchener, it was not enough to keep the subject matter of psychology pure of metaphysics; it was necessary too to keep it pure of common sense. He plainly regarded the common-sense notions of mind and consciousness as enemies, perhaps the strongest enemies scientific psychology had to encounter." (Pg. 124) She notes that "There is no doubt that after publishing The Principles of Psychology, [William] James ceased to be chiefly interested in psychology. All the questions worth answering, he said, were in philosophy. For him, psychology had been a phase. Though he was one of the most potent influences in shaping the new science of psychology... in the end he called it a 'nasty little science.'" (Pg. 155) She states that the 'Principles' "is, at its best, a series of acute perceptions and penetrating insights into a new and little-explored department of knowledge." (Pg. 161)
She suggests that "behaviorism has become more than a mere school of psychology; it has become a crusade against the enemies of science, and in this role it has taken on... something of the character of a cult. Its adherents are devoted to a cause; they are in possession of a truth that not all men have the courage or the wit or the knowledge to accept; and much of the strength of behaviorism as a living movement is derived from this fact." (Pg. 259) She contends, "Wherever the Freudian theories have been accepted outside the psychoanalytic fold, they have been received not because they carry the credentials of exact, verifiable evidence, but because they have aroused conviction that they represent keen observation and shrewd speculation which, in the main, square with the facts." (Pg. 410)
The relatively "early" date of this book will drastically limit its use to most modern readers as a comprehensive "history," but Heidbreder's insights into the schools she covers are very perceptive, and well worth reading.
The author wrote in the Preface to this 1933 book, "This book has been written not for professional psychologists, but for those who are interested in psychology who... are impressed by the fact that there are many different schools of thought in psychology, and wish to inquire further into the matter. The discussion refers specifically to American psychology ... it gives only occasional glimpses of that activity which is most characteristic of American psychology, experimental research... it does not consider, or even enumerate, all the systems now current in American psychology." (Pg. v)
She adds, "The selection of the seven systems has also been determined by the conception of systems as effective influences in the development of psychology." (Pg. vii) The seven systems are: Titchener and Structuralism; William James; Functionalism; Behaviorism; Dynamic Psychology; Gestalt Psychology; and Freud and Psychoanalysis. She explains, "systems of psychology will be considered ... not as right or wrong... but in terms of their influence on the actual development of a science of psychology." (Pg. 16)
She says about the rise of "scientific psychology" in Germany, "Some were more philosophical than psychological in their interests, others more physiological, but out of their labors a branch of knowledge was growing that was neither philosophy nor physiology. The 'new' psychology was not a study of the soul, certainly not an inquiry by rational analysis into its simplicity, substantiality, and immortality. It was a study, by observation and experiment, of certain reactions of the human organism not included in the subject-matter of any other science." (Pg. 105)
She observes, "for Titchener, it was not enough to keep the subject matter of psychology pure of metaphysics; it was necessary too to keep it pure of common sense. He plainly regarded the common-sense notions of mind and consciousness as enemies, perhaps the strongest enemies scientific psychology had to encounter." (Pg. 124) She notes that "There is no doubt that after publishing The Principles of Psychology, [William] James ceased to be chiefly interested in psychology. All the questions worth answering, he said, were in philosophy. For him, psychology had been a phase. Though he was one of the most potent influences in shaping the new science of psychology... in the end he called it a 'nasty little science.'" (Pg. 155) She states that the 'Principles' "is, at its best, a series of acute perceptions and penetrating insights into a new and little-explored department of knowledge." (Pg. 161)
She suggests that "behaviorism has become more than a mere school of psychology; it has become a crusade against the enemies of science, and in this role it has taken on... something of the character of a cult. Its adherents are devoted to a cause; they are in possession of a truth that not all men have the courage or the wit or the knowledge to accept; and much of the strength of behaviorism as a living movement is derived from this fact." (Pg. 259) She contends, "Wherever the Freudian theories have been accepted outside the psychoanalytic fold, they have been received not because they carry the credentials of exact, verifiable evidence, but because they have aroused conviction that they represent keen observation and shrewd speculation which, in the main, square with the facts." (Pg. 410)
The relatively "early" date of this book will drastically limit its use to most modern readers as a comprehensive "history," but Heidbreder's insights into the schools she covers are very perceptive, and well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review